Classroom Publication

Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: Campus Politics

Media Credit: Ben O'Shaughnessy Students carry signs in front of the Campus Center in protest against war.

What's the best way to voice an opinion you feel isn't being heard? On March 22 five student groups who said they felt protests were the answer joined together to protest the Iraq War, as well as a potential war in Iran.

Why March 22?

As March 20 was the three-year anniversary of the Iraq War, many students said they felt it important to contribute their concerns about the deaths of soldiers and civilians in the Middle East. Campus Action, the Young Socialists, Campus Greens, the Campus Anti-War Network, and the International Socialist Organization staged a protest with signs and speakers in front of the Campus Center Fountain on the afternoon of March 22. After which, they went downtown to protest on North Pearl with the Bethlehem Neighbors For Peace Organization.

On campus, students marched in a circle holding signs that proclaimed, "Bring Peace!" "Stop the Imperialist Onslaught Against Iraq!" and of course "Send Our Troops HOME!" A platform was set up where any student was encouraged to come and speak, non-violently, about their feelings of the war. There were more signs posted everywhere on the campus podium, detailing the numbers of soldiers dead in Iraq (which according to Iraq Coalition Casualties is 2341; 15 of those are unconfirmed), and warning of potential threats to Iran by the United States.

"I think it's really cool that they can voice their opinion like this. It's a good idea to have these facts thrown in our faces." ~ Claire Friedman

The protest lasted throughout the afternoon, but the main focus was on targeting students in between classes. So while sign carrying and speeches came about every hour, the shouting of protesters and the addition of even more to join in on the protest came during those ten-minute intervals.

Participants Speak

Speeches consisted of students voicing their concerns for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, as well as for the potential harm in seeking war with Iran over nuclear weapons.
One of the main speakers, Ben O'Shaughnessy, spoke of the "conscious drive to prevent one-third of humanity to get out of the darkness." This was in reference to the fact that Iran wants to develop nuclear power to provide its citizens with electricity and bring them out of third-world country status.

Many passing students took a few minutes to pause and watch their friends and fellow classmates march. Senior Claire Friedman stated, "I think it's really cool that they can voice their opinion like this. It's a good idea to have these facts thrown in our faces."


Not Only at UAlbany

Protests convened all over the world throughout the weekend and into the week, with similar protesters holding similar signs wanting the same thing. Most blamed Bush for not pulling troops out when several compare this war to Vietnam in terms of the United States winning the war. Many question if it is a war on terror, or a war for power.

President Bush

pollingreport.com is a media website that shows how citizens of the United States rate Bush as their president. It compares various ratings from 2006, and whether they have improved or declined recently. One of the largest noted decreases in approval for the president was from CBS, by a drop of 25 percent. The largest increase in approval was 3 percent from the Diaego/Hotline. When asked to comment on Bush approval ratings focusing on the war in Iraq, New York Senators Hilary Clinton and Charles Schumer declined to respond.

"the imperialism of the general administration of the U.S. government that makes us so-called predators to third world countries."

Not every student group who participated in the Albany protest viewed the war in Iraq as specifically President Bush's fault. O'Shaughnessy, the organizer of the Young Socialists, believes that it is the imperialism of the general administration of the U.S. government that makes us so-called predators to third world countries. The Young Socialists blame capitalism itself, that our oil-and-power starved nation is taking on those with more oil and less power for our own personal benefit. They joined the protest to help get out the message that not only is the war in Iraq wrong, but so is imperialism.

Does Protesting Work?

But just how successful are protests? Are they meant to make a statement, or are they supposed to accomplish something more? Sophomore and Campus Action member Nick Terlizzi said that protests are useful tools to make statements about where Americans stand.

"We got a positive reaction from students, a few even got up and spoke on their beliefs," said Terlizzi, "It's a great way to support the anti-war movement."

Will the Iraq War end soon? Will the protests help? Should it end soon? President Bush firmly believes that what we are doing in Iraq will benefit the United States greatly in the end. Others...aren't so sure.

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